THE 


CONSTITUTION 

OS  THE 

NEW-HAMFSHIRE 

MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 


V 

s 


WIT«  AN 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  PUBLIC : 


AND  THB 


LETTER  OF  CREDENCE  AND  INSTRUCTIONS 


«IVEN  TO  MISSIONARIES. 


<  . 

CONCORD: 

PRINTED  BY  GEORGE  HOUGH. 

A  .  .  . 

For  the  New-Iiampshirc  Missionary  Society. 


Nov....I81«» 


»  » 


Constitution, 


HE  experience  of  ages  has  proved,  that  in  order 


X  to  accomplish  any  important  object  of  public  utility, 
men  must  combine  their  counsels  and  exertions.  To 
promote  the  spiritual  and  eternal  well  being  of  mankind, 
the  friends  of  Zion  must  act  in  concert.  Their  prayers, 
and  means,  and  efforts,  must  be  united.  From  a  con¬ 
sideration  of  the  deplorable  condition  of  many  millions 
of  our  fellow  men,  who  are  perishing  through  lack  of 
knowledge  of  the  way  of  salvation  by  Christ  ;  from  a 
sense  of  voluntary  and  solemn  obligation  to  promote  the 
interest  of  the  Redeemer’s  kingdom  in  all  possible  prop¬ 
er  ways;  and  from  the  pious  example  of  many  friends 
of  Christ,  both  in  Europe  and  America;  a  number  of 
Ministers,  and  servants  of  Christ,  were  convened  at 
Hopkinton,  on  Wednesday  the  2d  day  of  September,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  1801,  for  the  purpose  of  consult¬ 
ing  upon  the  most  suitable  means  to  promote  a  cause  so 
desirable  as  the  enlargement  of  God’s  kingdom,  and  the 
salvation  of  perishing  souls;  and  did  form  themselves 
into  a  Society,  in  order  to  unite  their  exertions  to  spread 
abroad  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  among  the  heathen, 
and  others  in  our  frontier  and  infant  settlements,  who 
are  destitute  of  Gospel  privileges. 

At  the  time  and  place  above  mentioned,  they  did 
agree  to  adopt  the  following  Constitution: — 

Article  I.  The  Society  shall  be  known  by  the  name 
of  the  “New-Hampshire  Missionary  Society;”  the 
sole  object  of  which,  is  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel 
among  those  who  are  destitute  of  its  precious  privi¬ 
leges. 

Art.  II.  The  officers  of  the  Society  shall  consist  of  a 
President,  a  Secretary,  a  Treasurer,  and  nine  Trustees, 
to  be  chosen  annually,  by  ballot,  exclusive  ot  the  Presi¬ 
dent  and  Secretary,  who  shall  be  Trustees  ex  officiis. 

Art.  III.  The  duty  of  the  President  shall  be,  to  reg¬ 
ulate  the  meetings  of  the  Society;  and  to  act  as  the  Mod¬ 
erator  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  any  six  of  whom  shall 
constitute  a  quorum. 

Art.  IV.  The  duty  of  the  Secretary,  besides  acting 
as  a  Trustee,  shall  be,  to  keep  a  Record  of  the  transac¬ 
tions  of  the  Society,  and  perforin  all  the  services  which 
usually  appertain  to  said  office. 


4 

Art.  V .  The  duty  ©f  the  Treasurer  shall  be,  to  re¬ 
ceive,  ana  be  accountable  for,  all  the  property  of  the  So¬ 
ciety,  in  whatever  way  it  may  arise;  to  answer  the  or¬ 
ders  of  the  Trustees,  and  to  exhibit  a  fair  account  of  all 
his  proceedings,  to  the  Society,  annually;  and  oftener  to 
the  Trustees,  if  required. 

Art.  VI.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Trustees,  to  ex¬ 
amine  candidates  for  missions;  to  employ  and  direct 
Missionaries;  furnish  them  with  proper  credentials;  re¬ 
call  or  dismiss  them,  if  necessary;  and  in  a  word,  to  su¬ 
perintend  the  affairs  of  the  Society,  between  their  annu¬ 
al  meetings;  when  it  will  be  expected  that  they  make 
report  of  their  proceedings,  and  also  pt  the  services  and 
success  of  their  Missionaries. 

Art.  VII.  That  the  Society  may  reap  the  benefit  of 
the  united  exertions  of  their  Board  of  Trustees,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  said  Board  to  hold,  statedly,  semi-an¬ 
nual  meetings;  and  to  meet  oftener,  if  it  should  be  ne¬ 
cessary. 

VIII.  The  Society  shall  meet  annually,  on  the  Thurs¬ 
day  next  after  the  3d  Tuesday  of  September,  at  9  o’clock 
A.  M.;  unless  for  special  reasons  they  shall  agree  at 
one  meeting  to  have  their  next  holden  at  a  different  time. 
On  the  day  of  their  annual  meeting,  a  Sermon  shall  be 
delivered  at  3  o’clock,  P.  M.  And  at  each  meeting  the 
Preacher,  a  first  and  second,  shall  be  chosen;  and  also 
the  place  shall  be  appointed  for  the  next  meeting. 

IX-  All  questions  before  the  Society,  shall  be 
determined  by  a  majority  of  the  members  present,  ex¬ 
cepting  amendments  of  the  Constitution  :  these  shall  re¬ 
quire  the  concurrence  of  two  thirds  of  the  members 
present,  and  shall  be  proposed  one  year  beforehand  for 
consideration. 

X.  Any  person  may  become  a  member  of  the  Soci¬ 
ety,  by  subscribing  the  Constitution,  and  advancing  two 
Dollars  for  the  promotion  of  the  object  ef  the  Society  ; 
which  sum  shall  be  advanced  at  every  annual  meeting  : 
and  every  person  thus  united  shall  be  considered  as  re¬ 
taining  his  membership,  unless  he  shall  present  to  the 
Secretary  a  written  request  to  withdraw;  in  which  case, 
the  Secretary  shall  enter  his  name  on  the  Records  as  dis¬ 
missed. 

XI.  Every  settled  Minister  belonging  to  the  Soci¬ 
ety,  and  dther  suitable  persons,  shall  have  a  copy  of  the 
Constitution  for  the  purpose  of  admitting  members,  and, 
shall  take  p^ins  to  afford  opportunity  to  ail  who  may  be 


.disposed  to  become  members,  who  shall  subscribe  the 
Constitution,  advance  their  entrance  money  to  him,  and 
shall  receive  his  receipt  for  the  same;  which  they  shall 
convey  to  the  I  reasurer,  to  whom  the  money  is  to  be 
conveyed  as  soon  as  convenient ;  and  the  names  ol  all 
thus  uniting,  shall  be  transmitted  by  the  Minister,  or 
person  who  receives  them,  to  the  Secretary,  for  enrol¬ 
ment. 

XII.  It  is  recommended,  that  every  settled  Minis¬ 
ter  in  the  Society  lead  his  people,  at  least  once  in  a  year, 
to  the  consideration  of  the  duty  of  contributing  for  the 
propagation  of  theGospel,and  to  aft jrd  them  opportunity 
for  doing  the  same  b\  appointing  some  Sabbath  or  sea¬ 
son  for  the  purpose;  or  he  shall  assign  a  reason  for  his 
neglect.  And  the  Deacons  of  his  Church  are  desired 
by  the  Society  to  deliver  to  him  the  avails  of  such  con¬ 
tribute  s,to  take  his  receipt  for  the  same,  &  to  transmit 
the  receipt  to  the  Treasurer,  to  whom  th#  money  shall 
be  sent  ;  and  tne  Minister  or  person  shall  also  transmit 
a  statement  of  the  sum  thus  received,  to  the  Secretary, 
to  be  recorded. 

XIII.  When  any  one  shall  be  disposed  to  make  do¬ 
nations  to  the  Society,  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel, 
foe  shall  receive  a  receipt  for  the  same  from  the  Treasur¬ 
er,  President,  or  one  of  the  Trustees,  to  whom  the  do¬ 
nation  may  be  committed  :  and  the  donor  is  requested 
to  transmit  said  receipt  to  the  Secretary,  who  shall  keep 
Kecords  of  all  such  donations,  and  shall  present  such  re¬ 
ceipts  to  the  Society  at  their  annual  meeting  :  arid  if  any 
one  should  wish  to  make  piivate  donations,  his  name  in 
the  receipt  may  be  concealed,  provided  the  person  by 
whom  they  are  conveyed  be  recognized  therein. 

XIV.  It  will  be  expected,  that  the  Trustees  use  great 
precaution  in  the  appointment  of  Missionaries  ;  that 
none  be  employed  but  persons  of  good  report,  of  known 
prudence  and  integrity,  as  well  as  of  good  abilities  and 
information,  and  who,  in  a  judgment  of  charity,  are 
subjects  of  regenerating  grace,  and  possess  true  zeal  and 
fortitude  in  the  cause  of  our  Lord. 


Ste&tess  to  tfje  public. 

After  twelve  years  experience,  the  New-Hampshire 
Missionary  Society  may  with  confidence  appeal  to  the 
community  touching  the  utility  of  their  Institution.  It 


6 

Is  believed,  that  the  prayers  arid  exertions,  and  the  Iib» 
erality  of  its  friends,  have  not  been  in  vain;  but  that  the 
blessing  of  some  who  were  ready  to  perish  have  come 
upon  them.  So  incalculably  great  is  the  worth  ©f  souls, 
and  so  great  is  the  price  Which  has  been  paid  to  provide 
their  ransom,  that  if  only  one  sinner  has  been  brought  to 
repentance,  and  saved  from  eternal  reprobation,  by  the 
instrumentality  of  this  Society,  that  would  be  an  abun¬ 
dant  reward  for-  the  combined  labors  and  sacrifices  of  all 
its  members  and  friends.  But  it  is  believed,  that  many 
souls  have  been  savingly  benefited  by  these  exertions. 
In  instances  where  some  assistance  has  been  afforded  to 
small  and  destitute  settlements,  it  has  excited  among 
them  a  zeal  to  exert  themselves  to  support  Gospel  insti¬ 
tutions.  In  this  respect  the  charitable  aids  of  the  Soci¬ 
ety  have  had  a  tendency  not  only  to  keep  alive  a  sense  of 
the  importance  of  the  Gospel  among  the  new  settlements, 
but  have  furnished  inducements  to  them  to  help  them¬ 
selves. 

Experience  has  furnished  ground  for  the  hope  that 
God  does  own  this  Institution;  that  its  object  coincides 
with  his  designs  of  mercy  respecting  Zion;  and  that  he 
takes  its  efforts  under  his  peculiar  direction. 

The  Society, in  presenting  this  revised  copy  of  its  Con¬ 
stitution  to  the  community,  would  put  in  its  claim  to 
public  patronage,  not  only  on  account  of  the  immense 
importance  of  the  object  which  it  proposes,  but  from  a 
consideration  that  it  is  the  first  Institution  of  the  kind, 
and  pet  haps  the  first  Association  for  purely  charitable 
purposes,  which  was  ever  in  our  State.  It  constitutes  a 
new  era  in  the  history  of  New-Hampshire— -an  era  of 
public  charity;  and,  as  the  first  effort  of  the  kind,  it  has 
an  indubitable  claim  on  the  liberal  aid  of  all  who  wish 
for  the  order, stability,  and  well  being  of  society,  as  well 
as  of  those  who  desire  the  prosperity  and  enlargement  of 
the  Redeemer’s  kingdom. 

Although,  in  some  respects,  the  spirit  of  the  age  is 
alarming,  and  the  prospect  is  distressing,  yet  in  other 
respects  we  may  consider  it  a  privilege  that  we  live  in 
such  an  age,  because  it  furnishes  an  opportunity  and  a 
motive  for  all  to  do  something  for  the  precious  cause  of 
Jesus.  It  opens  channels  for  the  smallest  contributions 
for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel.  Never  were  the  ne¬ 
cessities  of  the  destitute  more  urgent;  never  was  the  ad¬ 
versary  more  busily  employed  in  projecting  schemes  to 
counteract  the  Gospel;  never  were  rehgious  institutions 


more  boldly  assailed  by  a  spirit  of  infidelity;  and  ne’  er 
before  bad  we  such  examples  of  exertion  for  the  exten¬ 
sive  diffusion  of  Gospel  knowledge.  Shall  we  remain 
indifferent  and  inactive,  and  do  nothing  to  prevent  the 
triumphs  of  the  grand  adversary  ?  Shall  we  have  no 
participation  in  the  final  triumph  of  truth  and  holiness 
over  error  and  sin  ?  Do  we  not  reproach  ourselves  that 
we  so  long  neglected  this  great  undertaking  ?  How  can 
we  answer  it  to  our  consciences  ?  How  shall  we  answer 
it  at  the  bar  of  our  Judge,  should  we  continue  to  neglect 
this  deeply  interesting  duty?  Are  you  not  ready,  and 
have  you  not  encouragement  still,  to  continue  your  aid  to 
the  Missionary  Society  ?  How  pleasing  the  considera¬ 
tion,  that  your  liberality  may  be  an  occasion  of  the  con¬ 
version  and  salvation  of  many  precious  aad  immortal 
souls  ;  and  that  the  happy  effects  of  it  may  be  realized 
by  generations  yet  unborn  ! 

Should  you  contribute  a  small  portion  of  that  worldly 
substance  which  the  great  Author  of  the  Gospel  has  kind¬ 
ly  committed  to  your  care,  it  will  be  considered  as  lent 
to  the  Lord:  and  he  who  is  able  to  make  all  grace  abound 
toward  you,  will  see  that  you  are  not  impoverished  by 
the  sacrifices  which  you  make  in  his  cause.  You  have 
his  promise,  that  you  shall  not  ultimately  suffer  loss  by 
what  you  do  for  him.  “  The  liberal  soul  shall  be  made 
fat,  and  he  that  watereth  shall  be  watered  also  himself.” 

The  Missionary  Society  again  solicit  your  pious  and 
charitable  co-operation.  Can  you  refuse  your  attention, 
your  influence,  your  prayers,  or  a  share  of  your  worldly 
substance,  for  the  promotion  of  an  object  so  vastly  impor¬ 
tant,  and  so  deeply  interesting  ? 

May  the  God  of  all  grace  inspire  all  our  hearts  with 
wisdom  and  zeal  to  seek  his  glory  and  the  prosperity  of 
Zion,  and  prepare  us  to  join  the  general  assembly  and 
church  of  the  First  born  in  Heaven, 


Letter  of  Credence  and  Instructions  given  to 

Missionaries . 

To  Missionary 

of  the  Kezv- Hampshire  Missionary  Society. 

Reverend  Sir, 

THIS  certifies,  that  you  are  appointed,  by  the 
New-Hampshire  Missionary  Society,  to  perform  Mis¬ 
sionary  service*  for  the  term  of  months. 


8" 

The  Society  place  confidence  in  you,  that  you  will, 
during  your  Mission,  attend  to  the  following  Instruc¬ 
tions,  given  to  all  their  Missionaries 

I.  You  will  devote  the  term  of  your  Mission  to  the 
sole  purpose  of  inculcating  the  principles  of  genuine 
Christianity,  bmh  publicly  and  privately,  upon  the  ob¬ 
jects  of  your  Mission. 

II.  You  will  spend  your  time,  as  much  as  possble, 
in  those  places  which  are  most  destitute,  and  which  pos¬ 
sess  the  least  means  of  providing  religious  instruction 
for  themselves. 

III.  You  will  accept  of  no  reward  from  those  to 
whom  you  minister,  excepting  v>ur  daily  bread;  unless 
donations  to  the  Society;  for  w  hich  you  will  he  account¬ 
able. 


IV.  You  will  not,  during  your  Mission,  purchase 
lands,  or  engage  in  any  secular  business  whatever. 

V.  It  is  expected,  thai  you  will  not  enter  into  the 
political  disputes  of  our  countrv,  as  tending  to  pre  judice 
the  mind,  and  to  defeat  the  gre  at  object  if  your  Mission. 

VI.  You  will  keep  a  daily  Journal  of  your  proceed¬ 
ings,  while  in  the  Society’s  service;  and  a  particu’ar  ac¬ 
count  of  the  manner  in  which  you  distribute  books  com¬ 
mitted  to  your  care. 

VII.  You  will  note  particularly,  in  your  Journal, 
special  incidents  that  mar  occur  within  the  circuit  of  your 
labors,  during  your  mission,  which  may  be  interesting 
and  instructive  relative  to  religion. 

VIII.  You  will  make  all  due  exertions  to  induce  the 
people,  in  the  towns  where  you  labor,  who  are  destitute 
of  regular  preaching,  to  set  up  and  constantly  maintain 
the  public  worship  ot  God,  on  Loid’s  days. 

IX.  You  will  endeavor  to  promote,  so  far  as  may  be 
in  your  power,  the  object  adopted  by  the  General  Asso¬ 
ciations  and  ethers,  oflaboring  to  dissuade  people  from 
the  undue  use  of  ardent  spirit*. 

The  Society  wish  you  the  presence  of  God,  ar.d  his 
blessing  upon  your  labors  :  And  in  their  name,  we  sub¬ 
scribe  ourselves, 

Your  Brethren  in  the  faith  and  fellowship 
of  the  Gospel. 


Fr  evident. 


Secretary. 


